Introduction

Lord of  the Silkworms?      The Empire Trades Back (and Forth) ?
                                              Brokeback Camel??
This is your big chance! 
You have been invited to the "East Meets West Film Festival" to pitch an idea for a new motion picture!  Your team has been asked to dream up an epic film about the Silk Road.  Your film will be filled with fascinating historical fact, exciting backdrops and a compelling stroy line that answers...

What are the possibilities when people, ideas, animals, and goods cross paths on the rugged terrain of the Silk Road?

Together with your Movie Concept Team (your table group), you will research four aspects of the Silk Road and come up with a comprehensive outline. Then, in pairs, groups or individually, you will create an idea for a movie. You will then show off your idea by creating a:

• Movie poster

• iMovie "trailer"

• PowerPoint that promotes your movie

• Garageband piece that promotes your movie

• Blog written by you, the movie "producer"

• Formal written report

You idea will surely have audiences lining up early to buy tickets!
Your product will be complete with historical facts and a fascinating story line.

Step One:
Your Movie Concept Team is your table group.  Each individual will choose a specific role, and will be responsible for making sure that part of the project is completed. However - you will help the other members of your team, whenever possible.  This is a group project and part of your evaluation will be based on group work.

Research Roles:

• Locations/Sets
• Props
• Costumes, Cultures

• Director/Writer - Religion Specialist

Step Two:
Once all of the research is done, you will have a team meeting to consolidate your notes into one comprehensive outline.

Step Three:

Now you must decide if you will work individually, in paris or in a group of up to three others. You will come up with a basic plot, using the "Build You Plot" sheet, linked below. You will need to have one Plot Plan for yourself, your pair or your group. Remember, your plot needs to:

a. be filled to the brim with fascinating facts about the Silk Road
b. include geography and the environment in the story
c.  highlight at least 3 cities along the route

d. include information about relgion, goods and culture along the Silk Roadi
e.  have a compelling storyline -- Adventure!  Romance! 
f. answer the question: What are the possibilities when people, animals, and goods cross paths on the rugged terrain of the Silk Road?
 
 

Step Five:
See some samples of some current movie posters ... CLICK HERE
but remember that your project needs to show and tell much more. 

Try to use show-biz style, catchy phrases while putting together your project (In the Gobi Desert's ancient city of Kara-Hot, there is more evil than the unforgiving extreme temperatures...) Use the following checklist for your project:
 
 ___  Project has at least seven (8) fascinating historical facts - include information about goods traded, culture along the route and religion

 ___  Project has information about geography, environment and

climate
 ___  Project has effective and relevant graphics (If you have graphics)
 ___  Project is attractive and interesting
 ___  Project grabs viewer's/listener's/reader's attention
 
 

Find out how to get started on your story -- Build your plot
 
 
 
 

Project Rubric  
  

So what do you think?  
What does happen when cultures collide on the Silk Road?  What are the possibilities?  What are the problems?
Now that we have the world wide web, cultures collide more often...or do they?  How is your life influenced by other cultures?  (Ask a friend to look at the label on your clothes, for instance)  What are today's "Silk Roads"?  What would your life be like without them?

The Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education provided many of the resources and links for this webquest.

Paula Hundley, District Technology TOSA, Palo Alto Unified School District advised and assisted with technology instruction and resources.